133: The Miracle of Fulton Sheen—Bonnie Engstrom

133: The Miracle of Fulton Sheen—Bonnie Engstrom

Okay, this is a personal biggie. To get to talk to the mother of the baby boy, James Fulton Engstrom, who was stillborn on September 16, 2010, after a healthy pregnancy. The baby stayed dead for 61 minutes.

Let that sink in.

James’s parents, Bonnie and Travis, began praying—hoping very much against hope—for the intercession of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, who was born and raised near their hometown, to “do something!”

After 61 minutes, something totally unexpected and yet longed for happened. The baby’s heart quickened into a healthy rhythm, and a lovely pink flush replaced the ashen gray of his corpse. TOTALLY impossible, according to every medical expert who has examined the case, and yet it happened. But they weren’t out of the woods. Sweet Baby James, by all evidence, would never recover from the catastrophic loss of oxygen. Doctors predicted the worst.

The Engstroms leveraged social media and doubled down on the heavenly “ask.” People in many countries came to the assistance with prayers. And none of the medical disasters came to pass. James was, and is, normal.

This is an incredible story, and is set to be the bona fide miracle that will make “Uncle Fultie” become Blessed Fulton J. Sheen, one step away from canonization. Ah, cool!

In this episode you will learn

Important biographical background on Venerable Sheen, his episcopacy, his media career, and his enduring impact.

A moment-by-moment account of a parent’s worst nightmare—loss of a child—that was turned into a stunning experience of joy and wonder.

Why the Church needs the example of a heroic bishop today.

Why Catholics needs to reset their idea of God from a remote bank manager to a loving Father who has the power to heal.